Daily Quiet Time.
August 8th, 2008
It works, trust me…just do it!
I have said before that for the last year we have consistently been taking an hour a day to have time by ourselves. Now, yesterday, Chloe asked (as I was running a bit late) Mommy is it time yet for quiet time? They all three ran up the stairs. Now Hudson is just now transitioning into the “honor and privilege” of not napping and being able to be have alone time too. I explained, with great theatrics’s, how special and grown up it was to do this and that he mustn’t bother his brother and sister because this is just their special time all to themselves. He stayed in his room working and singing away, which I must say is a huge milestone. So you see, you just keep doing things, over and over and over and in time even the strongest willed of the bunch gets it.
When I called them out to go to the library they all started saying, “Mom not yet, we need a bit more time to play.” Guess what. I said “NO”. I made them take a break and said, “Sorry, we must go”. Now I am not mean, there is a method to my madness..I want them to crave that time again the next day and literally run up the stairs to have some quiet space to themselves and pick up where they left off. In time, my prayer is that they will value this time as they are able to be still and quiet enough to hear the Holy Spirit nudging them along in this great life.
I have had other parents tell me they thought it was “strange” that I did this. Oh well wouldn’t be the first time. My kids are all together all the time practically from the day the 2nd and 3rd were born. I don’t want dysfunctional kids who don’t know who they are on their own. Oh My that is another post in and of itself.
See you all tomorrow,
Entry Filed under: Training Kids
5 Comments
Add your own1. lora | August 8th, 2008 at 9:14 am
i don’t think that’s strange at all.
i think it’s great.
give those people a load of my two year old running around my house to a 5 minute timer madly cleaning “FLY Lady” style. (although he does call it “fly guy”. =)
when i can catch 10 minutes of alone time my whole world is a different place. if you can get the whole family to do it, you go girl. =)
Love ya!
2. Jack's Mommy | August 8th, 2008 at 12:39 pm
I don’t think it’s strange either! I think it’s brilliant!
It bothers me that so many kids nowadays (even some in my own generation) don’t know how to successfully “be alone”. All I hear from my little teen cousins is how “bored” they are and how they want something to “do” if their friends aren’t around. It’s rediculous. I personally LOVE alone time and plan on teaching my little Jack to enjoy it too.
3. Cathy | August 8th, 2008 at 3:37 pm
This is not anything unrealistic. You hit it on the head with consistency though. I have all 4 of my kids “quiet” for 2 hours in the day. I’m working toward 1/2 of it being alone, like what you have, and the other half quiet play.
Even God Himself needed rest and alone time!!
4. Peggy | August 10th, 2008 at 11:31 pm
I just love your blog! It makes me feel good that you spend quality time with your kids, yet expect them to have quiet time alone as well.
When my kids were young we did this too. I wanted them to be able to not only slow down but also learn to be comfortable spending time with themselves.
Even though they’re teenagers now, they’re able to take time to be alone when they need to and truly like to entertain themselves.
Thanks to you and your blog for reminding me about it.
Peggy
5. Thoughtful Momma | August 11th, 2008 at 12:53 am
I love this practice. My babygurl just made two and I don’t think that she is ready yet but I certainly have this in the plans for the future. This gives me hope. Thanks for sharing! Loving your blog.
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